NCAA – Sports Writer’s March Madness Picks and Predictions 2016

March is here, which means it’s time for the NCAA tournament. Some teams have already secured their spot in the Big Dance. But others are still fighting their way in their respective conference tournaments. It’s going to be one hell of a ride going into the tournament. It’s going to get even wilder once the matchups are set.

It’s never too early to make your picks for March Madness. Below we help you take a look at some of the best teams with a shot to win it all. Read on as we take a look at the favorites, sleepers and a big long shot to win the national championship.

Get everything you need for March Madness. Check out our very own Top 25 rankings for college basketball.

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Favorites

Michigan State Spartans

The Michigan State Spartans (+500) are the favorites to win the NCAA tournament. It’s very difficult to refute their status as favorites. They rank among the best in four of the biggest categories in basketball. They’re 22nd in points per game (80.7), sixth in rebounds per game (42.1), first in assists per game (21) and 20th in points allowed per game (63.8).

Despite being ranked second in the AP Polls, the Spartans make a strong case for the national championships having already beaten No. 1 Kansas earlier in the season. When the Spartans roll, they’ll rely on their Jack of all trades, Denzel Valentine. The senior guard is averaging team-highs of 19.6 points, 7.5 rebounds and 7.5 assists per game this season.

Kansas Jayhawks

Kansas has plenty going for them. They’re ranked first in the nation and won the Big Ten regular season conference title. The Jayhawks are also +550 favorites to win the national championship at the Big Dance.

The Jayhawks have that incredible balance of youth and experience. Juniors Frank Mason III and Wayne Selden Jr. lend plenty of firepower, each averaging 13.4 points per game. Senior forward Perry Ellis leads the team with 16.5 points per game. But that’s not all; the Jayhawks are very good defensively, limiting opponents to just 67.8 points per game.

North Carolina Tar Heels

It’s going to be a nightmare to face the North Carolina Tar Heels in the NCAA tournament. Allow them to get hot on the floor, and you can probably say good bye to your hopes of winning the national championship. The Tar Heels have one of the best offenses in the nation, ranking 10th with 82.9 points per game and fifth with 18.3 assists per game.

Finding the open man has been North Carolina’s specialty. Doing so has helped them rank 26th in field goal percentage (.476). Chemistry has been very good with the Tar Heels; three of their starters are averaging over three assists per game. Having a handful of playmakers on the floor has helped Justin Jackson (12.3), Joel Berry II (12.3) and Marcus Paige (12) all average over 11 points per game this season.

Expect North Carolina to push the pace in the national tournament at +650 to win the national championship.

Sleepers

Wichita State Shockers

The Wichita State Shockers are +4,000 to shock the nation. The Shockers soared to win the MVC regular season title. They’re the No. 1 seeds in the conference tournament. Wichita State has had plenty of success in the NCAA tournament the past three years. They reached the Final Four in 2013, the Sweet 16 in 2015 and the Round of 32 in 2014.

The Shockers scored a big upset last season, defeating the Midwest’s second-seeded Kansas in the Round of 32. They’ll be angling for more upset wins this season as a swan song for seniors Ron Baker and Fred VanVleet. The two guards are Wichita State’s lifeblood. Baker has team-highs of 14.2 points and 4.8 rebounds per game. Meanwhile, VanVleet is averaging a team-high 5.7 assists and is scoring 12 points per game on his own.

Notre Dame Fighting Irish

It’s going to be very hard to ignore the Notre Dame Fighting Irish at +10,000 to win the national title. They recently defeated the defending national champions, the Duke Blue Devils, in the quarterfinals of the ACC tournament.

Backcourt play will be Notre Dame’s strength. Demetrius Jackson is back, pacing the team with 15.9 points and five assists per game. He’ll be the setup man for one of the nation’s most dangerous offenses. He has plenty of tools in his arsenal with Notre Dame’s four other starters all averaging over 11 points per game this season.

Long Shot

Gonzaga Bulldogs

Gonzaga has made the Big Dance 18 straight times after winning the West Coast Conference Tournament. Despite playing in a minor conference, the Zags are an elite team especially with Kyle Witjer still leading the way. The senior forward is averaging a whopping 20.7 points this season as Gonzaga’s starting swing man.

It’s not all Wiltjer, though. The Zags have plenty more talent with Domantas Sabonis a dominant force in the frontcourt, averaging 17.4 points and 11.6 rebounds per game. They also have a pretty good backcourt with Eric McClelland and Josh Perkins averaging over 10 points per game. The Zags have plenty of firepower and even more experience when it comes to playing in the NCAA tournament.

The Zags are worth a shot at +30,000 to win the national championship.

Writer’s Prediction

The Michigan State Spartans (+500) win the national championship.

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